Mary  J.    L.    McDonald 


ILL 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 


A  FERVbNT,  WHISPERED  PRAYER 


' 

LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

BY 

FRANCES  LITTLE 


AUTHOR    OF 
"THE  LADY  OK  THE  DECORATION  " 


WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS  BY 
GENJIRO  KATAOKA 


NEW  YORK 

THE  CENTURY  CO. 

1909 


Copyright,  1909,  by 
THE  CENTURY  Co. 

Published  October,  IQOQ 


JM  MEMORIAM 

,^v_. 


THE  DE  VINNE   PRE66 


TO  MY  NIECE 
ALICE  HEGAN  RICE 

IN  MEMORY  OF  MANY  HAPPY  MONTHf 
SPENT  TOGETHER  IX  JAPAN 


984453 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

A  fervent,  whispered  prayer      .     .     .     Frontispiece 

With  outstretched  hands  and  flying  feet    .     .  5 

She  would  throw  her  into  the  ditch       ...  17 

The  two  old  people 33 

Yuki  San  was  called  before  her  father  ...  53 

With  paint  and  brush  she  fell  to  work       .     .  65 

At  the  slightest  sound  she  listened    ....  77 

Not  willing  to  be  surpassed  in  salutation    .     .  85 

"  My  heart  bleed  for  lonely  "        .....  97 

She  busied  herself  with  serving  the  tea      .     .  105 

Very  helpless  and  lonesome 121 

To  make  good  her  promise  to  the  gods     .     .  137 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 


CHAPTER:!...-.. 


A  QUAINT  old  Jap^ktefce  : 
X~V  lay  smiling  under  the  sunshine 
of  a  morning  in  early  spring.  The  sun, 
having  flooded  the  outside  world  with 
dazzling  light,  seemed  to  sink  to  a  ten 
der  radiance  as  it  wooed  leaf  and  bud 
into  new  life  and  loveliness.  It  loos 
ened  the  tiny  rivulet  from  the  icy  fin 
gers  of  winter,  and  sped  it  merrily  on 
its  way  to  a  miniature  lake,  where  shin 
ing  goldfish  darted  here  and  there  in 

3 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

an  ecstasy  of  motion.  It  stole  into  the 
shadows  of  a  great  pine-tree,  and 
touched  the  white  wings  of  the  pigeons 
as  they  cooed  the  song  of  mat  ing-time. 
It  gleamed  on  the  sandy  path  that  led 
to  the  old  stone  lantern,  played  into  the 
,eyes  .of.  JK/vy^nnon,  the  Goddess  of 
'°DvIerey,~  ahd  '-finally  lost  itself  in  the 


Under  a  gnarled  plum-tree,  that  for 
uncounted  years  had  braved  the  snow 
and  answered  joyously  the  first  call  of 
spring,  a  little  maiden  stood  and  held 
out  eager  hands  to  catch  the  falling 
blossoms.  The  flowering-time  was 
nearly  done,  and  the  child  stood  watch 
ing  the  petals  twirl  quickly  down,  fill 
ing  the  hollows  and  fashioning  curious 
designs  on  the  mossy  grass. 
4 


WITH  OUTSTRETCHED   HANDS  AND   FLYING 


FEET 


K        '  \ 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  softest  of  breezes  coming  across 
the  river,  over  the  thick  hedge,  saucily 
blew  a  stray  petal  straight  into  the 
child's  face.  To  Yuki  Chan  it  was  a 
challenge,  and  with  outstretched  hands 
and  flying  feet  she  gave  chase  to  the 
whirling  blossoms.  Round  and  round 
the  old  tree,  into  the  hedge,  and  up  the 
sandy  path  she  raced,  her  long  sleeves 
spreading  like  tiny  sails,  her  cheeks 
flushed  to  the  same  crimson  as  her 
flowery  playmates.  A  sudden  stillness 
in  the  air  ended  the  romp.  Yuki  Chan 
returned  to  her  playground  beneath 
the  tree,  and  taking  her  captured  pet 
als  from  the  folds  of  her  kimono, 
began  to  count  her  trophies. 

"Ichi,  ni,  san,  ichi,  ni,  san,"  she 
rhythmically  droned,  three  being  the 

7 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

magical  number  that  would  bring  good 
luck  if  the  petals  were  properly  ar 
ranged  and  the  number  repeated  often 
enough. 

But  the  monotony  of  repetition 
brought  rest,  and  soon  Yuki  Chan,  for 
getting  to  count,  made  a  bed  of  the 
fallen  petals  and  turned  her  face  to 
ward  the  little  straw-roofed  house 
from  which  noises  of  busy  preparation 
came. 

It  was  a  birthday.  Not  Yuki 
Chan's,  for  that  came  with  the  snow- 
time.  This  was  the  third  day  of  the 
third  month,  which  in  the  long  ago  was 
set  apart  as  the  big  birthday  of  all  little 
girls  born  in  the  lovely  island,  and  was 
celebrated  by  the  Festival  of  Dolls. 

Yuki  Chan  lay  with  her  slim  body 
8 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXOW 

stretched  in  the  warmth  of  the  sun. 
In  every  graceful  line  was  the  imprint 
of  high  breeding;  her  white  face,  so 
unusual  with  her  race,  was  stamped 
with  the  romance  and  tragedy  of  cen 
turies;  while  her  eyes,  limpid  and  lu 
minous,  looked  out  at  the  world  with 
eager,  questioning  interest. 

Through  the  wide-open  shoji  of  the 
house  she  caught  glimpses  of  her 
father  and  mother  hurrying  and 
holding  consultations.  She  marked 
frequent  visits  to  the  old  warehouse 
that  held  the  household  treasures, 
and  the  bringing  out  of  bundles 
wrapped  in  yellow  cloth.  The  air 
brought  her  whiffs  of  cooking  food, 
and  the  flower-  and  fish-men  deposited 
a  fair  part  of  their  stock  on  the  porch. 

9 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

But  Yuki  Chan  was  banished  from 
these  joys  of  preparation  because  of 
naughtiness,  and  as  she  lay  in  the 
warm  sunshine  she  thought  of  her 
recent  wickedness.  She  smiled  as  she 
remembered  how  she  had  hid  her  fa 
ther's  pipe  that  he  might  work  the 
faster,  and  broken  the  straps  of  her 
mother's  wooden  shoes,  so  that  she 
could  not  go  outdoors.  She  laughed 
softly  when  she  thought  of  the 
stray  cat  which  she  had  brought  into 
the  house  and  coaxed  to  drink  milk 
while  she,  with  skilful  fingers  and  a 
pair  of  scissors,  transformed  her  smooth 
fur  into  a  wonderful  landscape  garden. 
Short  work  had  made  kitty's  head 
slick  and  shiny,  like  a  lake,  with  a  stray 
bristle  or  two,  which  stood  for  trees. 
10 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

In  the  middle  of  her  back  stood  Fuji, 
the  great  mountain,  with  numberless 
little  Fujis  to  keep  company.  Many 
winding  paths  ran  down  kitty's  legs 
to  queer,  shapeless  shrines,  and  it  was 
only  when  Yuki  Chan  had  insisted  on 
making  a  curious  old  pine-tree  with 
twisted  limbs  of  kitty's  short  and 
stubby  tail  that  trouble  ensued,  and  she 
had  been  requested  by  her  mother  to 
take  her  honorable  little  body  to  the 
garden. 

Yuki  Chan  remembered  her  mother's 
beautiful  smile  of  love  as  she  gently 
chided  her,  and  recalled  the  note  of 
trouble  in  the  kind  voice.  Was  the 
mother  sorry  because  she  had  stuck 
out  a  very  pink  tongue  at  a  cross-eyed 
old  image  that  sat  on  the  floor  on  the 
ii 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

-very  spot  that  she  wanted  to  step  upon  ? 
Or  was  it — and  Yuki  Chan  grew  grave 
—that  the  last  go  rin  had  been  spent 
for  the  new  dress  she  was  to  wear  that 
day? 

All  her  short  life  Yuki  Chan  had 
lived  in  a  house  of  love,  but  no  veil  of 
.affection,  no  sacrifice,  could  shield  her 
from  the  knowledge  of  poverty.  She 
had  never  seen  her  mother  wear  but 
one  festival  dress,  yet  her  own  little 
kimono  was  ever  bright  and  dainty, 
and  even  the  new  brocade  of  the  dolls' 
dresses  stood  alone  with  the  weave  of 
gold  and  tinsel. 

A  solemn  thought,  like  a  pebble 
dropped  into  water,  caused  circle  after 
circle  to  trouble  her  childish  mind. 
She  did  not  quite  understand,  but  she 

12 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

knew  there  was  something  she  must 
learn.  She  had  been  naughty  and 
weighed  her  mother's  spirits.  She  had 
caused  a  grave  look  in  her  father's  kind 
eyes,  and  had  sent  the  household  pets 
scattering  with  her  mischief.  Now  she 
must  be  good— very  good— else  the 
fox  spirit  would  come  upon  her,  and 
she  would  go  through  life  an  unhappy 
soul.  She  would  give  more  obedience 
to  the  honorable  mother,  whose  every 
word  had  been  a  caress.  It  was  as  if 
for  the  first  time  the  great  book  of  life 
opened  before  her  and,  though  uncon 
scious  of  its  meaning,  the  first  word 
she  saw  spelled  Duty. 

The  noises  from  the  house  grew 
fainter.  The  child,  with  blinking  eyes, 
lay  gazing  straight  above  her.  Over- 

13 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

head  the  branches  overflowed  into  a 
canopy  of  crimson,  which  shut  out  the 
great  real  world  and  opened  into  a 
fairy  world  wherein  only  the  untried 
feet  of  youth  may  tread  and  the  fragile 
flowers  of  child-dreams  bloom.  The 
gates  thereto  are  slight  but  strong,  and 
only  knowledge  erects  an  impassable 
barrier. 

The  wind  sang  its  lullaby  through 
the  blossoms  of  the  tree,  and  sleep 
would  soon  have  overtaken  Yuki  Chan 
had  not  a  peculiar  sound  aroused  her 
and  caused  her  eyes  to  fly  wide  open. 
Once  before  she  had  heard  it,  and  it 
had  meant  death  to  the  big  robin  who 
lived  in  the  branches  above.  The  cry 
came  from  the  mother  bird  this  time 
and  brought  Yuki  Chan  to  her  feet. 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

Through  the  shower  of  blossoms, 
brought  down  by  the  mad  fluttering  of 
wings,  she  saw  a  tiny  half-feathered 
thing  struggling  in  the  sharp  claws  of 
her  lately  acquired  pet.  With  certainty 
of  success,  the  cat  let  its  victim  weakly 
flutter  an  inch  or  two  away,  then 
reaching  out  a  cruel  paw  drew  it  back. 
Twice  repeated,  the  green  eyes  nar 
rowed  to  slits,  and  Yuki  Chan,  horri 
fied,  saw  big  red  drops  slowly  dripping 
from  either  side  of  the  whiskered 
mouth.  Terror  held  her  for  a  moment 
as  she  heard  the  crunching  of  small 
bones,  then  white  passion  enveloped 
her  as  she  stole  noiselessly  from  behind 
and  closed  her  two  small  hands  around 
the  furry  throat. 

"Baka!  "  she  cried  from  between  her 

15 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

clenched  teeth.  "Baka — to  eat  the 
baby  birds !  This  day  will  I  ask  Oni  to 
make  you  into  a  stone,  which  every 
foot  will  kick  and  hurt,  and  you  can 
neither  move  nor  cry.  You  cruel, 
cruel  beast!"  In  vain  the  cat  strug 
gled.  Yuki  Chan  held  it  firmly  at 
arm's-length  while  she  decided  what 
was  to  be  its  fate. 

Looking  sternly  at  the  offender, 
her  lips  rounded  into  a  long-drawn 
"s-o,"  the  light  of  anticipated  revenge 
danced  in  her  eyes.  At  last  she  knew 
what  to  do,  O  most  honorable  but  very 
ugly  cat !  She  would  throw  her  into  the 
ditch,  where  great  crawling  frogs  with 
popping  eyes  would  stick  out  long 
tongues;  where  flying  things  would 
sting,  and  creeping  things  would  bite ; 
16 


ill  kick 


SHE  WOULD  THROW  HER  INTO  THE  DITCH 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  keeper  was  very  old,  and  very 
cross,  and  lately  had  acquired  a  curi 
ous  idea  that  little  .girls  must  ask  his 
honorable  permission  to  go  in  and  out 
the  gate.  One  day  he  actually  threat 
ened  punishment,  and  Yuki  Chan, 
in  her  scorn,  invited  him  to  cut 
off  his  head  with  a  sword,  that  he 
might  save  his  face.  Now  the  way 
was  clear. 

She  turned  her  head  and  bumped 
her  small  body  against  the  weight  of 
the  heavy  gates  until  they  swung 
slightly  apart  and  permitted  her  to  slip 
through. 

So  intent  was  her  purpose  to  reach 
the  ditch  across  the  street  that  she  did 
not  see  an  approaching  jinrikisha,  and 
before  she  knew  it  she  had  been  tum- 

20 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

bled  over  and  sent  rolling  to  the  side 
of  the  road.  Still  clutching  the  kitten, 
she  sat  up  and  rubbed  the  dust  from 
her  eyes. 

Standing  over  her  was  the  jinriki- 
sha  man,  and  beside  him  was  his  pas 
senger,  a  young  American  boy,  whose 
light  hair  and  blue  eyes  held  her  spell 
bound.  He  was  brushing  the  dust 
from  her  kimono,  and  his  foreign 
tongue  made  strange  sounds. 

"Say,  kid,"  the  boy  was  saying,  as 
he  transferred  the  dust  from  his  hands 
to  his  handkerchief,  "glad  you  're  not 
hurt  or  got  any  bones  cracked. 
Where  's  your  mama,  or  your  papa,  or 
your  nurse,  to  give  you  a  spanking  and 
keep  you  off  the  street?" 

As  he  talked  Yuki  Chan  grew  fas- 

2  21 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

cinated  watching  his  mouth,  and  for 
got,  for  a  moment,  her  direful  inten 
tion.  The  cat,  again  taking  advan 
tage  of  her  relaxed  hold,  began  to  tug 
for  freedom,  and  a  lively  struggle  en 
sued. 

The  boy,  looking  on,  began  to  laugh, 
a  laugh  that  began  in  his  eyes,  ran  over 
his  face  and  down  into  his  throat, 
whence  it  came  again  in  a  shout  of 
boyish  merriment. 

Yuki  Chan,  looking  from  him  to  the 
smiling  jinrikisha  man,  grew  crimson 
with  anger.  With  a  swift  movement 
she  ran  toward  the  ditch. 

Divining  her  purpose  by  the  look  in 
her  eyes,  Dick  Merrit  went  gallantly 
to  the  rescue  of  the  kitten.  He  was 
tall  for  his  sixteen  years,  and  his  long 

22 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

strides  more  than  matched  the  patter 
ing  steps  of  the  slip  of  a  girl  \vho  raced 
before  him. 

"No,  you  don't,  kiddie/'  he  cried; 
"your  manicured  cat  is  not  going  into 
the  ditch,  if  we  have  to  scrap  for  it." 

Merrit  caught  Yuki  Chan  in  one 
arm,  and  again  and  again  loosened  her 
fingers  from  the  struggling  kitten. 

"lya,  lya!"  the  child  screamed;  but 
Merrit,  as  determined  as  she,  held  her 
firmly,  and  ended  by  lightly  slap 
ping  first  one  little  hand  and  then  the 
other. 

The  child,  thus  coming  into  contact 
for  the  first  time  with  physical  force, 
relaxed  her  grasp  and  gazed  in  amaze 
ment  at  the  boy's  determined  face. 

"I  guess  your  'lya'  means  no,  little 

23 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

lady,  and  I  say  'lya'  too,"  said  Merrit, 
taking  the  cat  into  his  arms  and 
smoothing  its  uneven  back.  "You  are 
not  going  to  put  it  into  the  ditch.  Why 
don't  you  give  it  to  me  ?  I  am  getting 
up  a  collection  of  cats  and  things  at 
the  school,  and  I  'd  like  to  take  this 
queer  specimen  along.  Ask  her  if  I 
can  have  it." 

The  jinrikisha  man,  who  stood  a 
smiling  spectator,  saw  Dick  Merrit's 
hand  move  toward  his  pocket,  and  was 
instantly  alert  and  eager  to  settle  the 
matter. 

"Him  ve'y  bad  girl,"  he  said;  "him 
make  dead  for  catty.  You  give  me  ten 
sen,  I  take  girl  homely.  You  have 
much  of  catty." 

But  Dick  declined  all  interference, 
24 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

and  putting  the  cat  inside  his  coat  he 
stooped  down  and  took  one  of  Yuki 
Chan's  unresisting  hands.  Her  sleeve 
fell  back,  and  he  saw  the  long  red 
scratch. 

"Hello !  The  cat  had  an  inning  too, 
did  n't  she?  I  'd  like  to  chuck  her  for 
hurting  you,  but  I  can't  let  you  give 
her  a  bath  in  that  dirty  hole.  Never 
mind,  I  '11  take  her  home,  and  some  day 
I  '11  bring  you  something.  I  bet  you 
don't  understand,  a  word  I  'm  saying, 
but  I  '11  be  hanged  if  I  know  how  to 
make  you." 

Feeling  rather  helpless,  Dick  talked 
on,  patting  first  Yuki  Chan  and  then 
the  cat. 

The  child  stood  speechless  and 
looked  deep  into  his  eyes,  not  having 
25 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

entirely  recovered  from  the  shock  of 
the  first  blow  she  had  ever  received. 

"You  '11  be  good,  won't  you?"  he 
went  on  coaxingly,  "not  drown  any 
more  cats  and  things  ?" 

Yuki  Chan,  with  the  intuition  that 
only  a  child  can  have,  suddenly 
bridged  the  gulf  of  strange  language 
and  understood.  With  the  quick  move 
ment  of  a  nestling  bird,  she  bent  for 
ward  and  laidher  cheek  against  the  boy's 
shoulder.  It  was  not  only  complete  sur 
render,  but  allegiance  to  the  conqueror. 

Dick  rose,  red  and  confused.  Then 
he  climbed  into  the  jinrikisha,  trying 
to  ignore  the  smiles  of  the  man. 

Yuki  Chan,  with  her  hands  joined 
just  below  her  sash,  bent  her  body  like 
a  half-shut  jack-knife. 
26 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

"Arigato — arigato,"  she  said  po 
litely,  as  she  bowed  again  and  again. 

"Him  say  t'ank  you,"  interpreted 
the  jinrikisha  man. 

"Good-by,"  called  Dick.  "Don't  for 
get— be  good!" 

Yuki  Chan  watched  the  back  of  the 
jinrikisha  and  the  swinging  brown 
legs  of  the  jinrikisha  man  that  showed 
beneath.  She  had  forgotten  the  cat, 
but  she  still  remembered  the  kind  look 
in  the  blue  eyes  of  the  boy. 

"Yuki,  Yuki !"  came  the  voice  of  the 
mother  in  her  native  tongue.  "Come, 
the  feast  is  prepared,  and  the  sandals 
are  worn  from  my  feet  running  to  seek 
you.  Hurry!  before  the  red  beans 
grow  cold." 

The  child  sent  a  long-drawn  "Hei" 
27 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

in  answer  to  her  mother,  then  to  her 
self  she  said  over  and  over : 

"Be  goodu — be  goodu." 

She  had  heard  the  words  a  few 
times  before,  but  they  were  associated 
with  her  visits  to  the  mission-school 
and  a  certain  oblong  box  out  of  which 
came  sticks  of  red  and  white  with  a 
very  sweet  taste.  Now,  as  she  said 
them,  a  new  meaning  seemed  to  play 
about  them. 

She  slipped  through  the  gate  and 
walked  with  unhurried  feet  toward  the 
small  house,  so  gay  in  its  festal  plu 
mage.  As  she  passed  the  old  plum-tree 
she  looked  up  and  saw  the  mother  bird 
cuddling  her  babies  beneath  her  breast. 

Some  tender  thought  lighted  the 
child's  face  into  a  strange  beauty,  as  a 
28 


LTTTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

stray  sunbeam  finds  a  hidden  flower 
and  glorifies  it.  Turning  her  face  up- 
\vard  to  the  nest,  she  patted  her  own 
cheek  and  said:  "Be  goodu,  Yuki,  be 
goodu." 


29 


CHAPTER  II 

IN  the  springtime  a  Japanese  house 
is  a  fairy-like  thing,  with  only  top 
and  bottom  of  straw  and  a  few  uphold 
ing  posts  to  give  it  a  look  of  substance. 

Yuki  Chan's  house  was  typical.  The 
paper  screens  were  carefully  put 
away  during  the  day,  that  the  breezes 
might  play  unobstructed  through  the 
house.  At  night  the  heavy  wooden 
doors  were  fitted  into  grooves  and 
served  not  only  to  keep  out  the  night 
air,  but  also  the  evil  spirits  that  come 
abroad  when  the  great  sun  ceases 
watching. 

Binding  the  whole  was  a  narrow 
30 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXOW 

porch,  showing  a  floor  polished  like  a 
mirror  from  the  slipping  and  sliding 
of  generations  of  feet.  Yuki  Chan  first 
learned  to  know  her  face  in  its  reflec 
tions  and,  alas!  by  the  same  method 
had  learned  the  saucy  fascination  of 
sticking  out  her  small  pink  tongue. 

On  the  side  of  the  porch  toward  the 
plum-tree  the  child  found  her  father 
and  mother  waiting.  The  two  old  peo 
ple  sat  on  gay  cushions  with  hands 
folded  and  feet  crossed.  Their  festal 
attire  bore  the  marks  of  a  once  careless 
luxury,  but  now  shabbiness  tried  to 
hide  itself  under  the  bravery  of  tinsel, 
where  once  had  been  pure  gold. 

Each  year  the  struggle  of  obsolete 
methods  of  business  and  the  intricacies 
of  progress  plowed  the  furrows  a  little 
31 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

deeper  in  the  man's  face,  and  when  his 
eyes,  that  in  youth  had  blazed  with  am 
bition,  grew  wistful  and  troubled,  he 
dropped  them  that  his  wife  might  not 
see. 

But  what  silence  could  hide  from 
this  frail  woman  any  mood  of  the  man 
she  had  served  with  mind  and  body 
and  soul  these  many  years  ?  When  she 
came  to  him  as  a  shy  bride  on  trial,  she 
knew  no  such  word  as  love.  Duty  was 
her  entire  vocabulary,  and  she  asked 
nothing  and  gave  all. 

Many  little  souls  had  come  to  her, 
with  hands  all  crimped  and  pink,  like 
new-blown  cherry-leaves,  only  to  close 
their  eyes  and  pass  out  to  the  good  god 
Jizo,  who  is  alwrays  waiting  to  help  lit 
tle  children  across  the  river  of  death. 


THE  TWO  OLD   PEOPLE 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

In  years  gone  by,  night  after  night 
sleep  had  flown  before  the  terror  that 
another  woman  would  be  brought  into 
the  house  that  the  family  name  might 
not  die  out.  Silently  she  would  slip  out 
to  the  little  shrine  and  pour  out  pas 
sionate  words  of  prayer  that  just  one 
little  soul  might  be  permitted  to  live. 

No  matter  how  long  the  night,  nor 
how  bitter  the  struggle,  morning  al 
ways  found  her  bright  and  cheerful, 
bending  every  effort  to  invent  newr  di 
versions  for  her  husband.  She  labored 
to  anticipate  every  wish,  and  even 
though  she  did  without,  she  provided 
him  the  best  of  comfort.  Working  far 
into  the  night,  secretly  disposing  of 
her  small  personal  treasures,  acquies 
cing  in  his  most  trivial  statements,  she 
35 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

planned  that  no  slightest  gap  in  the  do 
mestic  arrangement  should  suggest  it 
self  to  him. 

The  woman  worked  and  prayed  and 
waited.  Then  she  triumphed.  In  the 
wake  of  a  great  snow-storm  came  the 
longed-for  child,  and  they  called  her 
Yuki,  after  the  snow  that  had  brought 
them  their  wish.  Hand  in  hand  with 
Yuki  Chan  came  love,  and  bound  the 
hearts  of  the  man  and  woman  with  ties 
of  a  desire  fulfilled.  From  that  time  to 
this  love  had  prevailed,  and  as  Yuki 
Chan  climbed  on  the  porch,  besmirch 
ing  its  shining  surface  with  her  muddy 
little  feet,  that  had  been  guiltless  of 
sandals  all  day,  the  faces  of  the  two  old 
people  lighted  up  with  sudden  joy. 

Yuki  Chan  looked  ruefully  at  the 

36 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

muddy  prints  she  had  made  and  real 
ized  that  she  had  been  a  most  impolite 
little  girl.  Remembering  her  recent 
resolve,  she  sought  the  eyes  in  which 
she  had  never  seen  any  light  for  her 
save  that  of  love.  She  drew  close,  and 
reaching  down  took  her  mother's  hand, 
hard  and  cracked  by  labor,  and  laying 
her  cheek  against  it  said,  with  a  voice 
sure  of  forgiveness  and  sweet  desire 
for  atonement : 

"Go  men  nasai." 

The  mother,  with  a  courtly  but  play 
ful  air,  granted  her  pardon  with  a  low 
salutation.  Then  with  a  rush  of  affec 
tion  that  no  convention  could  stem,  she 
folded  the  child  to  her  heart  and  lived 
another  moment  of  supreme  joy. 

The  father  sat  by,  making  no  com- 

37 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

ment,  his  eyes  bright  and  twinkling. 
Then  he  suggested  that  their  Majes 
ties,  the  dolls,  had  been  waiting  long 
on  the  shelf.  Was  it  not  time  they 
were  receiving  a  visit? 

The  years  of  toil  were  telling  on 
both  father  and  mother,  but  they  daily 
refreshed  themselves  at  the  overbrim 
ming  fountain  of  Yuki  Chan's  youth, 
and  nowr,  as  they  each  took  one  of  her 
hands  to  go  in  to  see  the  dolls,  they 
were  so  gay  that  the  child  suggested 
that  instead  of  walking  they  should  do 
the  new  one-two-three-hop  she  had 
learned  at  the  kindergarten. 

It  was  unheard-of  conduct,  but  it 
was  for  Yuki  Chan,  and  father  and 
mother  stumped  along,  cheered  on  by 
the  small  girl  who  was  trying  to  keep 

38 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXO\V 

time,  but  was  breathless  through  sheer 
excess  of  happiness. 

There  was  nothing  in  the  room  to 
impede  their  progress.  No  chairs  with 
treacherous  legs  to  trip  over,  no  beds, 
nor  tables  with  sharp  corners— noth 
ing  whatever  but  the  matting,  soft  and 
thick,  where  Yuki  Chan  had  practised 
all  the  gymnastics  of  childhood  un- 
bruised  and  unharmed. 

Half  skipping,  half  hopping,  and 
wholly  undone  with  laughter  and  ex 
ertion,  the  three  at  last  reached  the 
place  where,  for  six  years,  offerings 
had  been  made  for  the  gift  of  the  child 
who  stood  to  these  two  for  love. 

Arranged  in  the  best  room  in  the 
house,  on  five  long  red-covered  shelves, 
were  dolls.  Big  dolls  and  little  dolls, 

3  39 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

thin  ones  and  fat  ones,  each  one  to  rep 
resent  some  royal  man  or  woman  of 
the  long  ago,  and  dressed  in  a  fashion 
of  a  time  almost  forgotten.  There  was 
Jimmu  Tenno,  the  first  real  emperor. 
His  hair  was  done  in  a  curious  fashion 
and  his  dress  was  of  a  wonderful 
brocade,  while  his  hands  clasped 
two  fierce-looking  swords.  There  was 
Jingo,  too,  who  had  won  fame  and  last 
ing  honor  by  her  wonderful  fighting, 
and  was  so  great  she  had  to  sit  by  the 
emperors  and  look  down  on  the  other 
empresses.  Such  a  lot  of  them !  Some 
worthy  to  be  remembered  every  day  in 
the  year,  others  the  more  quickly  for 
gotten  the  better. 

Yuki  Chan  knew  them  all  by  heart, 
and  she  lingered  before  those  she  liked 
40 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

and  quickly  passed  those  she  did  not 
care  for.  She  could  not  be  rude  to  an 
emperor,  even  though  he  had  been 
dead  hundreds  of  years.  She  was 
really  not  very  afraid  of  the  greatness 
of  the  old  doll  men  and  women  who  sat 
on  the  shelf,  still  it  was  well  to  be  care 
ful  about  handling  them.  She  might 
be  turned  into  a  lizard  or  a  snake,  just 
as  the  old  lodge-keeper  had  said. 

But  her  delight  was  in  the  miniature 
toilet  articles  of  solid  silver,  costly  gold 
lacquer,  and  porcelain,  so  tiny,  so  beau 
tifully  carved  they  must  have  meant 
the  eyesight  of  some  workman,  only 
too  glad  to  shut  out  the  sunlight  for 
ever  if  he  might  produce  just  one  per 
fect  thing. 

The    things,    however,    that    made 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

Yuki  Chan  clap  her  hands  and  the 
nesting  birds  perk  up  their  heads  at  the 
sound  of  her  clear,  sweet  laugh  were 
the  funny  little  lacquer  carts  in  which 
the  royalty  was  supposed  to  ride, 
drawn  by  impossible  fat  bullocks,  so 
bow-legged  that  their  curves  formed  a 
big  round  O.  Yuki  Chan  made  her 
red  lips  into  the  same  shape,  and  called 
her  mother  to  look. 

She  pretended  to  feed  the  dolls  with 
real  food  and  wine,  and  actually  played 
with  the  five  court  musicians,  because 
they  were  partly  servants  and  it  did 
not  matter. 

Her  tongue  ran  in  ceaseless  chatter. 

Her     father     and     mother     hovered 

around  her,  repeating  the  history  of  all 

those  wonderful  people.     Yuki  Chan 

42 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

listened  very  little,  so  concerned  was 
she  with  her  own  comments,  until  she 
happened  to  see  an  anxious  look  creep 
into  her  mother's  eyes.  It  was  some 
thing  every  little  girl  must  know,  and 
if  Yuki  Chan's  honorable  ears  refused 
to  open,  how  would  she  learn?  Then 
Yuki  Chan  nestled  close,  and  gave  lit 
tle  pats  of  love  and  tried  to  listen. 

THE  shadows  of  the  bamboo  grew 
long  and  slim  as  the  sun  kissed  them 
good  night.  The  sails  skimmed  home 
ward  on  a  silver  sea  as  the  west  cov 
ered  its  rosy  pink  in  a  veil  of  deepest 
blue.  The  young  birds  in  the  old  plum- 
tree  did  not  stir  at  the  loving  touch 
of  the  mother  who,  with  a  soft  bill, 
searched  and  sought  for  the  lost  one. 
43 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  plum-blossoms  lingered  yet  for  a 
night  as  the  air  had  grown  chill. 

Within  the  house  Yuki  Chan,  still 
dressed,  lay  on  the  floor,  weary  with 
the  wonders  of  the  day.  Her  mother 
took  from  a  small  inclosure  beneath  a 
shelf  many  soft  comforts  with  which 
she  arranged  the  child's  bed.  Yuki 
Chan,  talking  all  the  time  in  a  low 
monotone,  tried  to  unravel  a  tangle  in 
her  mind  of  birds  and  cats  and  dolls. 
It  was  all  getting  unmanageable  and 
very  hazy,  when  her  mother  gathered 
her  into  her  arms,  and  quickly  casting 
aside  her  two  garments  laid  her  gently 
in  a  bath  of  caressing  warmth.  A  mo 
ment  more  and  the  little  maiden  lay 
like  a  rose-leaf  in  her  bed. 

The     night-lamp     made     shadowy 

44 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

ghosts  of  all  it  touched,  and  one  gleam 
of  light,  escaping  the  paper  shade, 
hung  like  an  aureole  above  the  head  of 
Yuki  Chan's  mother  as  she  knelt  with 
clasped  hands  before  the  Buddha  on 
the  shelf. 

Her  moving  lips  had  only  one  re 
frain:  "The  child,  the  child,  the  child." 

Yuki  Chan  watched  the  play  of  the 
light  in  the  half-dark  room.  What 
funny  things  those  shadows  made,  and, 
strangely  enough,  one  more  wonderful 
than  all  the  rest  grew  into  the  shape  of 
the  boy,  and  his  lips  wrere  saying,  "Be 
good." 

Then  Yuki  Chan  lost  herself  in  a 
mist  of  drowsiness,  and  her  mother  sat 
by,  and  kept  time  with  her  hand  as  she 
chanted  rather  than  sang: 

45 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

"Sleep,  little  one,  sleep. 
The  sparrows  are  nodding". 
Beneath  the  deep  willow-trees 
The  night-lamp  is  burning. 
Thy  mother  is  watching, 
Sleep,  little  one,  sleep." 


CHAPTER  III 

TWELVE  times  had  the  plum-tree 
scattered  its  petals  to  the  wind, 
and  Yuki  San1  had  passed  from  child 
hood  into  girlhood,  and  had  already 
touched  the  border  of  that  grave  land 
of  grown-up,  where  all  the  worries  lie. 
For  though  she  was  apparently  only  a 
larger  edition  of  the  spoiled,  impulsive 
happy  child  of  old,  yet  often  her  eyes 
were  shadowed  with  the  struggle  of 
shielding  her  aging  father  and  mother 
from  the  poverty  that  was  coming 
closer  day  by  day. 

1  The  honorific  Chan,  used  only  in   childhood,  is 
changed  to  San  in  later  years. 

47 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

During  the  three  years  she  had  been 
gaining  her  education  at  the  English 
mission-school,  they  had  toiled  unceas 
ingly  that  she  might  have  the  best  the 
country  could  afford,  but  now  that  she 
had  returned  after  her  long  struggle 
with  a  strange  language  and  a  strange 
people,  it  was  but  fitting  that  she 
should  take  up  her  duties  as  the  daugh 
ter  of  an  impoverished  family  of  high 
rank.  The  father,  grown  old  and  fee 
ble,  gave  up  the  battle  for  existence, 
and  being  a  devout  Buddhist,  turned 
his  thoughts  upon  Nirvana,  which  he 
strove  diligently  to  enter  by  perpetual 
meditation  and  prayer.  The  mother, 
used  to  guidance  and  unable  to  think  or 
plan  for  herself,  turned  helplessly  to 
Yuki  San. 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  duties  were  heavy  for  girlish 
shoulders,  and  often  as  the  dawn  crept 
over  the  mountains  it  found  the  girl 
wide-eyed  and  still,  trying  to  solve  the 
problem  of  modest  demand  and  mea 
ger  supply. 

She  had  learned  many  things  at  the 
mission-school.  She  could  read  and 
write  English  imperfectly,  she  could 
recite  the  multiplication  table  faster 
than  any  one  else,  she  could  perform 
the  most  intricate  figures  in  physical 
culture,  and  if  she  had  infinite  time  she 
could  play  three  hymns  on  the  organ. 
These  varied  accomplishments,  how 
ever,  seemed  of  little  assistance  in 
showing  her  how  to  stretch  her  fa 
ther's  small  pension  beyond  the  barest 
necessities  of  the  household.  Tales 

49 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

had  been  told  her  of  a  great  land,  far 
beyond  her  sea-bound  home,  where 
women  of  the  highest  birth  went  out  to 
work  in  the  busy  world.  How  she 
had  marveled  at  their  boldness  and 
wondered  at  the  customs  that  would 
permit  it!  Now  she  half  envied 
them  their  freedom,  and  sighed  over 
the  iron-bound  etiquette  that  for 
bade  a  departure  from  her  father's 
roof  save  for  the  inevitable  end  of 
all  Japanese  women — a  prearranged 
marriage. 

It  was  for  this  she  had  been 'so  care 
fully  trained  in  all  phases  of  house 
keeping,  and  in  all  the  intricacies  of  so 
cial  life.  Her  education  from  birth 
had  been  with  a  view  of  making 
smooth  the  path  of  her  future  husband 
50 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

that  his  home  might  be  peaceful  and  he 
untroubled. 

Each  day  as  the  burden  grew  heav 
ier  she  fought  her  battle  with  the  brav 
ery  and  courage  of  youth,  \\ii\\  jests 
and  chatter  she  served  her  parents' 
simple  meals,  constantly  urging  them 
to  further  indulgence  of  what  she  pre 
tended  was  a  great  feast,  but  which  in 
reality  she  had  secretly  sacrificed  some 
household  treasure  to  obtain.  She 
deftly  turned  the  rice-bucket  as  she 
served,  that  they  might  not  see  the 
scant  supply.  With  great  ceremony  she 
poured  the  hot  water  into  the  bowls, 
insisting  that  no  other  sake  was  made 
such  as  this.  Her  determination  to 
keep  them  happy  and  ignorant  of  the 
true  conditions  taxed  her  every  re- 
Si 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

source,  but  it  was  her  duty,  and  duty  to 
Yuki  San  was  the  only  religion  of 
which  she  was  sure. 

But  one  day  a  great  event  happened 
in  the  little  home.  Yuki  San  was 
called  before  her  father  and  told,  in 
ceremonious  language,  that  a  marriage 
had  been  arranged  for  her  with  Saito 
San,  a  wealthy  officer  in  the  Emperor's 
household.  She  laid  her  head  upon 
the  mats  and  gave  thanks  to  the  gods. 
Now  her  father  and  mother  would  live 
in  luxury  for  the  rest  of  their  lives ! 

Saito  San  was  to  her  only  a  far 
away,  shadowy  being,  whom  she  was 
to  obey  for  the  rest  of  her  life  and 
whose  house  she  was  to  keep  in  order. 
He  was  a  means  to  an  end,  and  entered 
into  her  thoughts  merely  as  one  to 
52 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

whom  she  was  deeply  grateful.  Youth 
and  all  its  joys  were  strong  within  her, 
and  the  pressure  of  poverty  gone,  her 
whole  nature  rebounded  with  delight. 

Many  times  had  marriage  been  pro 
posed  for  her,  for  the  story  of  her 
beauty  and  obedience  had  spread,  but 
her  father  guarded  his  treasure  zeal 
ously,  and  it  was  not  until  an  offer 
came,  suiting  his  former  rank  and  con 
dition,  that  he  gave  his  consent. 

Now,  when  he  saw  the  happy  light 
in  the  eyes  of  his  child,  and  saw  the 
color  come  into  her  cheeks,  he  laid  his 
hands  upon  her  head  and  blessed  her. 

When  Yuki  San  was  by  herself  she 
clapped  her  hands  joyfully.  "I  make 
happy  like  'Merican,"  she  whispered. 
"Hooray,  hooray!  now  my  trouble- 

55 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

some  make  absence,"  and  she  hurried 
away  to  put  a  thank-offering  before 
the  household  god. 

Having  arranged  all  preliminaries 
and  instructed  the  mother  to  sell  every 
household  treasure  that  his  child's 
clothes  might  do  honor  to  the  rich 
man's  house,  the  father  went  back  once 
more  to  his  pipe  and  his  dreams. 

Yuki  San  and  her  mother  were  up 
with  the  sun,  sewing  and  embroider 
ing,  and  going  about  their  daily  task 
with  zest  and  song.  The  past  trials 
were  forgotten  and  the  future  not  con 
sidered. 

One  morning,  not  many  weeks  after 
the  marriage  had  been  arranged,  Yuki 
San  heard  the  call  of  the  Yubin  San, 
and  running  out  to  meet  him,  received 

56 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXOW 

a  strange-looking  letter.  The  envelope 
was  white  and  square,  and  straight 
across  the  middle,  in  very  plain  Eng 
lish,  was  her  name  and  address.  Puz 
zled,  she  turned  it  over  and  over,  then 
broke  the  seal. 

The  picture  of  the  big  hotel  at  the 
top  of  the  sheet  was  so  distracting  that 
for  a  time  she  could  get  no  further,  but 
a  word  here  and  there  and  the  signa 
ture  at  the  end  finally  made  her  cry  out 
with  delight  and  surprise. 

"Oh!  it  's  from  that  funny  lil'  boy 
what  gave  spank  to  my  hands  long 
time  ago.  He  want  to  come  to  my 
house  for  stay.  Listen." 

There  was  no  one  to  listen  but  her 
own  happy  self,  and  lying  flat  upon 
the  floor  she  propped  her  glowing  face 

57 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

between  her  palms,  while  she  read 
aloud  from  the  letter  spread  before 
her: 

YOKOHAMA. 
Miss  YUKI  INOUYE— 

Dear  Miss  Inouye:  I  wonder  if  you  re 
member  an  American  boy  with  whom  you 
had  an  encounter  in  your  very  early  days, 
because  he  dared  to  thwart  your  plans  con 
cerning  a  cat?  I  remember  it  very  well, 
and  the  jolly  picnics  and  excursions  that 
you  and  my  mother  and  I  took  together 
afterward. 

I  hope  you  have  not  forgotten  me,  for  I 
am  going  to  claim  the  privilege  of  the  con 
queror  in  that  old  battle  and  ask  a  favor  of 
you.  My  Government  has  sent  me  out  to 
your  country  on  some  important  business, 
and  finding  there  was  no  hotel  close  to  my 
work,  I  wrote  to  the  school  where  my 
mother  and  I  visited  twelve  years  ago,  and 
asked  them  to  recommend  a  family  that 

58 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

would  be  good  enough  to  take  me  in  for 
two  months.  Strangely  enough  your 
father's  name  was  suggested,  and  when  I 
read  that  the  only  daughter  both  spoke  and 
wrote  English,  and  that  her  name  was  Yuki 
San,  my  mind  flew  back  to  my  "Little  Sis 
ter  Snow"  of  the  days  gone  by. 

Could  your  father  manage  to  accommo 
date  me  for  a  couple  of  months,  if  I  prom 
ise  to  be  very  good  and  take  up  as  little 
room  as  possible?  If  you  think  he  can, 
please  wire  me  here  at  Yokohama,  and  I  '11 
come  straight  down. 

Hoping  to  see  you  very  soon,  I  am 

Your  old  friend, 

RICHARD  MELTON  MERRIT. 

Yuki  San  turned  the  letter  this 
way  and  that,  and  vainly  tried  to  deci 
pher  the  strange  words.  It  was  un 
doubtedly  English,  but  not  the  English 

59 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

she  was  used  to.  She  ran  for  her  small 
dictionary  and  diligently  searched  out 
the  meaning  of  each  phrase. 

Yes,  she  remembered  the  boy — he 
had  light  hair,  and  blue  eyes  that 
laughed,  and  he  was  a  big,  big  boy  and 
carried  her  on  his  shoulder. 

She  sat  with  the  folded  letter  clasped 
carefully  in  her  hands  and  gave  her 
self  up  to  joyous  anticipation.  A  for 
eign  guest  was  coming  to  stay  two 
whole  months  in  her  house ;  after  that 
she  was  to  be  married  and  wear  her 
beautiful  kimono,  and  give  rich  gifts 
to  her  father  and  mother. 

Surely  Buddha  was  caring  for  her ! 
There  had  been  grave  moments  of 
doubt  about  it  since  she  left  the  mis 
sion-school,  for  he  had  never  seemed  to 
60 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW  

listen,  though  she  prayed  him  night 
and  day.  But  he  had  been  only  wait 
ing  to  send  all  her  happiness  at  once — 
he  was  a  good  god,  kind  and  thought 
ful.  To-morrow,  before  the  sun 
touched  the  big  pine-tree-on  the  moun 
tain-top,  she  would  go  to  the  temple 
and  tell  him  so. 

Yuki  San's  plans  found  favor  with 
her  parents,  chiefly  because  of  their 
great  desire  to  give  her  pleasure,  and 
incidentally  because  the  board  of  the 
foreigner  would  swell  the  fund  that 
was  needed  for  her  marriage. 

The  plighted  maid  to  them  was  al 
ready  the  wife,  and  the  danger  of  a 
youthful  heart  defying  tradition  and 
clearing  the  bars  of  conventionality  to 
reach  its  own  desire  was  something  un- 
61 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

known  to  these  simple  people.  The 
child  wished  the  foreigner  to  come — 
they  could  give  her  few  pleasures — 
she  should  have  her  desire. 

The  sending  of  the  telegram  was  the 
first  exciting  thing  to  be  attended  to. 
Five  times  Yuki  San  rewrote  the  short 
message,  finding  her  fingers  less  deft 
than  her  tongue  in  framing  an  English 
sentence.  Gravely  and  with  effort  she 
wrote : 

"I  give  you  all  my  house.  Your  lovely 
friend,  Yuki." 

But  she  shook  her  head  over  this  and 
tried  again : 

"You  have  the  welcome  of  my  heart. 
Yuki." 

This,  too,  fell  short  of  her  ideal,  so 
62 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

she  decided  to  send  simply  two  words 
of  which  she  was  quite  sure : 

"Please  come." 

The  days  that  followed  were 
crowded  with  busy  preparation.  The 
difficulty  of  providing  the  ease  and 
comfort  that  the  presence  of  so  honor 
able  a  guest  demanded  taxed  to  the  ut 
most  Yuki  San's  resourceful  nature. 
Gaily  she  set  her  wits  and  fingers  to 
work — placing  a  heavy  brass  hibachi 
over  a  black  scorch  in  the  matting,  fit 
ting  new  rice-paper  into  the  small 
wooden  squares  of  the  shoji,  and  hang 
ing  kakemono  over  the  ugly  holes  made 
by  the  missing  plaster  in  the  wall. 

From  one  part  of  the  house  to  an 
other  she  flitted,  laughing  and  work- 

63 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

ing,  while  the  old  garden  echoed  her 
happiness  and  overflowed  with  blos 
som  and  song. 

On  the  day  of  Merrit's  expected  ar 
rival,  when  the  last  flower  had  been  put 
in  the  vases,  and  the  last  speck  of  dust 
flecked  from  the  matting,  Yuki  San's 
keen  eyes  detected  a  torn  place  in  the 
paper  door  which  separated  the  guest- 
chamber  from  the  narrow  hall. 

A  puzzled  little  frown  drew  her 
black  brows  together,  but  it  soon  fled 
before  her  smile. 

"Ah !"  she  cried,  "idea  come  quickly ! 
I  write  picture  of  bamboo  on  teared 
place/' 

With  paint  and  brush  she  fell  to 
work,  and  beneath  her  skilful  fingers 
the  ugly  tear  disappeared  in  a  forest  of 


or  .ua^  a 


WITH  PAINT  AND  BRUSH  SHE  PELL  TO  WORK 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

slender  take  which  stretched  away  to 
the  foot  of  a  snow-capped  mountain. 

With  a  last  touch  she  sank  back  on 
her  heels  and  viewed  her  work  with 
deep  satisfaction.  "All  finished/'  she 
said,  opening  wide  her  arms ;  "no  more 
to  do  now  but  wait  for  that  time  'Men- 
can  sensei  call  jollyf ul !" 

A  laugh  behind  her  made  her  turn 
her  head  quickly,  and  there  in  the  door 
way  stood  a  tall  foreigner,  with  out 
stretched  hand  of  welcome. 

Hand-shaking  was  an  unknown  art 
with  Yuki  San,  so  after  one  startled 
upward  glance  she  touched  her  head  to 
the  floor  in  gracious  courtesy. 

All  her  gay  spirits  and  freedom  of 
speech  vanished,  and  she  \vas  instantly 
enveloped  in  a  mist  of  shyness  and  re- 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

serve  that  Merrit's  direct  look  did  not 
serve  to  lessen. 

With  lowered  eyes,  she  ushered  him 
into  the  larger  living-room,  andbade  him 
be  seated  and  accept  all  the  hospitality 
her  father's  poor  house  could  give. 

After  a  long  and  tiresome  journey 
Merrit  found  something  inexpressibly 
charming  in  the  quiet,  picturesque 
place,  and  in  the  silent  young  girl  who 
sat  so  demurely  in  the  shadow.  He 
tactfully  ignored  her  timidity  by  talk 
ing  cheerful  nonsense  about  imper 
sonal  things,  treating  her  as  a  bashful 
child  who  wanted  to  be  friends  but 
hardly  dared. 

As  he  talked  Yuki  San  gained  cour 
age,  and  ventured  many  curious  glances 
at  the  broad-shouldered  young  fellow, 
68 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

whose  figure  seemed  completely  to  fill 
the  room.  At  first  she  saw  only  a 
strange  foreigner,  but  gradually,  as  she 
watched  his  face  and  listened  to  his  un 
familiar  speech,  she  discovered  a  long- 
lost  playmate. 

Through  all  the  years  that  she  had 
struggled  for  an  education  at  the  mis 
sion-school,  English  had  been  invari 
ably  associated  with  a  tall,  awkward, 
foreign  boy,  whose  mouth  made  funny 
curves  and  whose  eyes  laughed  when 
he  made  strange  sounds.  How  big  and 
splendid  and  handsome  he  had  grown ! 
How  different  his  clothes  from  any  she 
had  ever  seen  before !  How  white  his 
long  hands,  whose  strong,  firm  touch 
she  remembered  so  well !  She  looked 
and  looked  again,  drinking  in  the  tones 

69 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

of  his  deep  voice,  till  the  throbbing  of 
her  heart  sent  a  flood  of  crimson  to  her 
cheeks. 

But  gradually  her  shyness  wore 
away,  and  when  Merrit  asked  her  how 
in  the  world  he  was  to  conduct  his  busi 
ness  with  so  few  Japanese  words  at  his 
command,  she  ventured  to  answer:  "I 
know ;  I  give  you  the  teach  of  Nippon, 
you  give  me  the  wise  of  dat  funny 
'Merican  tongue." 

"That 's  a  go !"  said  Dick,  as  he  held 
out  his  hand  to  close  the  bargain. 

But  the  girl  drew  back,  troubled. 

"No,  no,  you  no  go!  You  stay.  I 
give  you  all  my  intellect  of  Nippon 
speech.  Please!"  and  she  looked  up 
pleadingly. 

Merrit  laughed  outright. 
70 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

'That  's  all  right,  Yuki  San;  I  am 
going  to  stay,  and  we  will  begin  school 
in  the  morning." 

By  this  time  the  mother  and  father 
had  learned  of  the  guest's  arrival  and 
hurried  in  to  bid  him  welcome.  The 
unpacking  of  his  steamer-trunk  and 
the  disposal  of  his  possessions  in  his 
small  apartment  was  a  matter  of  in 
terest  to  the  whole  family.  Each  arti 
cle  was  politely  examined  and  ex 
claimed  over,  and  when  Merrit  drew 
out  a  package  of  photographs  and 
showed  them  his  home  and  family  and 
friends,  the  excitement  became  intense. 

That  night  Yuki  San  lay  once  more 
on  her  soft  futon  and  watched  the 
shadow  of  the  night-lamp  play  upon 
the  screens.  Nothing  was  changed  in 

71 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

the  homely  room  since  she  had  lain 
there  in  her  babyhood :  the  same  little 
lamp,  the  same  little  Buddha  on  the 
shelf  looking  at  her  with  inscrutable 
eyes. 

Yuki  San  stirred  restlessly.  "Dat 
most  nice  girl  in  picture/'  she  said  to 
herself.  "Him  make  marry  with  dat 
girl,  he  say/'  Then  she  added  incon- 
sequently,  with  a  sigh,  "I  much  hope 
Saito  San  go  to  war  for  long,  long 
time." 


72 


CHAPTER  IV 

FOR  two  halcyon  months  Yuki  San 
lived  in  a  dream.  The  ample 
compensation  Merrit  insisted  upon 
making  for  the  hospitality  extended  to 
him  more  than  met  the  modest  needs 
of  the  little  household,  and  once  again, 
as  in  the  earlier  days,  they  went  on 
jolly  excursions,  visited  ancient  tem 
ples,  and  picnicked  under  the  shadow 
of  the  torii.  The  father  and  mother 
always  trotted  close  behind,  and  Yuki 
San,  vastly  pleased  with  her  ability, 
gaily  translated  the  speeches  from  one 
to  another.  She  talked  incessantly, 
laughing  over  her  own  mistakes,  and 

73 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

growing  prettier  and  more  winsome 
every  day. 

Merrit  was  glad  to  fill  his  leisure 
time  in  such  pleasant  companionship. 
Yuki  San  was  the  same  little  bundle  of 
charm  he  remembered  of  old,  with  her 
innocence  untouched,  and  a  heart 
whose  depths  had  never  yet  been 
stirred. 

He  teased  her,  and  taught  her,  and 
played  with  her,  as  he  would  have 
played  with  a  merry  child.  Naturally 
gentle  and  affectionate,  he  uncon 
sciously  swept  Yuki  San  to  the  border 
land  of  that  golden  world  where  to 
awaken  alone  is  agony. 

One  morning,  when  the  heavy  mists 
of  the  valley  lay  in  masses  of  pink 
against  the  deeper  purple  of  the  moun- 

74 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

tain,  and  his  Highness,  the  sun,  his 
face  flushed  from  his  long  climb,  was 
sending  his  first  glances  over  the 
sunny  peaks  of  Fuji-yama,  Yuki  San 
arose,  after  a  sleepless  night,  and 
faced  the  morning  with  sorrowful 
eyes. 

"You  ve'y  lazy,  Mister  Sun,  this 
morning,"  she  said,  shaking  a  finger  at 
him  in  reproof;  "where  you  the  have 
been?  Why  you  not  come  the  more 
early  and  make  light  for  my  busy?" 

She  tied  the  long  sleeves  of  her 
bright  kimono  out  of  her  way,  and 
twisting  a  bit  of  cloth  about  her  head, 
fell  to  dusting  the  shoji  and  setting  the 
small  room  in  order. 

"I  must  the  hurry,"  she  said,  as  she 
kept  up  her  brisk  dusting.  "I  make  the 

75 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

food  so  quick  as  that  Robin  San  steal 
berry  for  his  babies.  To-day  him  one 
big,  big  day,  but  him  no  glad  day. 
Merrit  San  go  away."  She  paused  in 
her  work,  and  a  look  of  pain  darkened 
her  eyes,  but  she  shook  her  head  re 
proachfully. 

"Ah,  Yuki  San,  you  make  sorry 
voice  and  your  heart  is  thinking  tears. 
You  naughty  girl!  Quick  you  make 
the  fire  to  rise  in  hibachi  and  give  that 
Merrit  San  his  gohan — same  thing 
what  that  funny  'Merica  call  break 
fast." 

After  the  steam  had  begun  to  rise 
from  the  vessels  on  several  hibachi, 
Yuki  San,  flushed  by  her  exertions, 
rested  upon  her  heels  before  the  door 
that  led  into  the  garden.  As  she 


, 

. 


AT  THE  SLIGHTEST  SOUND  SHE  LISTENED 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

fanned  her  flushed  face  with  her 
sleeve,  she  glanced  again  and  again 
toward  the  narrow  stairway  that  led  la 
the  chamber  above,  and  at  the  slightest 
sound  she  listened  in  smiling  expec 
tancy. 

From  outside  the  wall  came  the  gen  - 
tie  slip-slap  of  the  wrater  against  the 
sampan,  and  the  cheerful  banter  of  the 
owners  as  they  made  ready  for  the 
work  of  the  day. 

Circling  the  garden,  the  fern-like 
maples  made  a  note  of  vivid  crimson 
amid  the  feathery  green  of  the  bam 
boo.  Every  feature  of  the  place  was- 
closely  associated  with  her  short  happy 
life.  She  had  learned  to  walk  on  the 
soft  sandy  paths,  she  had  spelled  out 
her  first  characters  on  the  old  stona 

79 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

lantern.  She  had  whispered  her  se 
crets  to  the  broken-nosed  image  of 
Kwannon,  who  sat  in  the  shadow  of 
the  pines,  and  there  under  the  plum- 
tree  she  had  caught  the  naughty  kitten 
that  first  brought  her  and  Merrit  San 
together. 

As  she  sat,  with  folded  hands,  and 
watched  the  sunshine  on  the  dewy 
leaves  and  flowers,  her  intense,  rest 
less,  vivacious  body  relaxed  in  sudden 
languor  and  her  soft  mouth  drooped  in 
wistfulness. 

A  splash  in  the  pool  below  attracted 
her,  and  looking  down  she  saw  the 
gleaming  bodies  of  the  goldfish  as  they 
leaped  into  the  air.  Instantly  she  was 
all  life  and  volubility. 

" Yuki  San  one  big  bad  girl ;  she  no 
80 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

remember  li'l  fish.  They  always  like 
hungry  baby  San  in  early  morning.  I 
make  fast  to  fill  big  hole  inside— ve'y 
li'l  outside." 

Slipping  her  half-stockinged  feet 
out  of  her  straw  house-shoes,  she 
stepped  into  her  wooden  geta,  and 
passing  a  shelf,  filled  her  hands  with 
round  rice-cakes. 

The  edge  of  the  water  turned  to 
gold  as  the  fish  crowded  close.  Yuki 
San  scattered  the  crumbs  and  stood 
watching  the  wriggling  mass  for  a 
moment,  then  said : 

"You  ve'y  greedy  li'l  fish.  I  never 
no  can  fill  your  bodies.  Now  I  get 
flower  for  Merrit  San's  breakfast." 

She  made  her  way  over  the  flat 
mossy  stones,  passed  the  miniature 
81 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

Fuji  where  dwelt  the  spirit  of  the  won 
drous  "Lady  who  made  the  flowers  to 
bloom."  She  paused  before  the  gor 
geous  chrysanthemums  and  looked 
long  at  the  morning-glories,  with  their 
tender  tints  of  dawn.  But  at  last  she 
:spied  on  a  rose-bush,  set  apart  from  the 
rest,  a  single  white  rose  with  a  heart 
of  red. 

With  a  little  cry  of  satisfaction,  she 
thrust  her  hands  among  the  thorns  to 
pluck  it.  The  rebound  of  the  bush  sent 
fluttering  to  her  feet  a  brilliant  purple 
butterfly.  Tender  to  all  living  things, 
Yuki  San  dropped  quickly  to  her  knees 
and  folded  the  half-chilled  creature  be 
tween  the  palms  of  her  warm  hands. 

"Ah,  Cho  Cho  San,"  she  said,  "the 
<iay  of  yesterday  you  so  big  and  strong. 
82 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  morning  of  to-day  you  have  the 
weakness  of  cold  body.  That  Jack 
Floss  him  ve'y  naughty  boy!" 

She  put  her  moist  red  lips  to  her 
folded  palms  and  the  warmth  of  her 
breath  stirred  to  action  the  gauzy  crea 
ture  she  held  captive. 

"You  no  must  kick,  Cho  Cho  San! 
Have  the  patience.  I  make  you  warm, 
I  give  you  one  more  day  of  happy." 

Yuki  San's  wooden  shoes  sent  a 
sharp  click  into  the  quiet  morning  air 
as  she  quickly  crossed  the  arched 
bridge  and  followed  the  path  to  the 
stone  image  beyond  the  pool.  With  a 
touch  as  soft  as  the  wings  she  held,  the 
girl  lightly  balanced  the  now  thor 
oughly  warmed  butterfly  on  the  broad 
forehead  of  the  Goddess  of  Mercy. 

83 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

In  sharp  contrast  to  the  spirit  of  the 
scene  came  the  clear,  rollicking  strains 
of  an  American  air,  whistled  by  some 
one  coming  down  the  steps. 

For  a  moment  Yuki  San  stood  mo 
tionless,  pressing  her  lips  softly  to  the 
rose  she  held.  Then,  with  a  swift  pit 
ter-patter,  she  ran  back  to  the  house. 

"The  top  of  the  morning  to  the  hon 
orable  Miss  Snow/'  said  Merrit,  who 
quite  filled  the  doorway. 

Not  willing  to  be  surpassed  in  salu 
tation,  Yuki  San  laid  a  hand  on  each 
knee,  and  bending  her  back  at  right 
angles,  replied  with  mock  gravity: 

"Ohayo  Gozaimasu-Kyo  wa  yoi  O 
tenki." 

Merrit  knew  she  had  him  at  a  disad 
vantage  in  her  own  language,  but,  al- 

84 


NOT  WILLING  TO  BE  SURPASSED  IN  SALUTATION 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

ways  delighted  to  see  the  play  of  her 
dimples  and  the  soft  pink  creep  into 
her  cheeks  when  he  teased,  he  stood  by 
her  now,  big  and  stern,  and  growling. 

"See  here,  Yuki  San,  otherwise  Miss 
Snow,  you  just  come  off  your  high 
stilts  of  that  impossible  lingo,  and 
speak  nice  English  suitable  for  a  little 
boy  like  me  to  understand." 

"Li'l  boy  like  you !"  she  rippled,  "li'l 
boy  like  you !  Merrit  San  him  so  long 
when  he  make  Japanese  bow  he  come 
down  from  top  like  big  bamboo-tree— 
so!"  Putting  her  hands  high  above 
her  head,  she  bent  till  the  tips  of  her 
fingers  touched  the  floor.  Still  bent, 
she  twisted  her  head  till  her  eyes, 
bright  with  laughter,  looked  straight 
into  Merrit's. 

87 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

He  lifted  his  eyebrows  quizzically. 
'"See  here,  Yuki  San,  you  are  fast  de 
veloping  the  symptoms  of  a  coquette/' 

She  quickly  straightened  her  back, 
and  with  a  smile  of  bewilderment,  ex 
claimed  : 

"Me  croquette?  No,  no;  croquette, 
him  li'l  chicken-ball  what  you  eat.  I 
no  can  be  eat!" 

Merrit  shouted  with  delight,  then 
;grew  grave. 

"No,  Yuki  San,  you  don't  ever  want 
to  be  a  coquette.  You  want  to  be  your 
•sweet  little  self,  and  make  a  good  wife 
to  that  handsome  soldier  Saito,  with 
all  his  gold  braid  and  dingle-dangles. 
But  what  about  breakfast?  You  see, 
my  train  leaves  in  an  hour.  If  you 
don't  give  me  something  to  fill  my  hon- 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

orable  insides,  I  '11  have  to  eat  you, 
sure  enough." 

In  mock  fear  she  quickly  brought 
a  low  table  from  an  inner  room,  and 
with  deft  hands  placed  the  steaming 
soup  and  broiled  fish  before  him.  The 
knife  and  fork  were  a  concession  to 
Merrit's  inability  to  wield  the  chop 
sticks,  and  sitting  on  his  heels  was 
Merrit's  concession  to  the  inability  of 
the  house  to  provide  a  chair. 

"Hello !"  he  said,  picking  up  a  long- 
stemmed  rose,  "where  did  you  find  this 
beauty?" 

"I  guessed  her  with  my  nose,"  the 
girl  answered.  "You  know  what  make 
her  heart  so  red  ?  Long  time  ago,  most 
beautiful  princess  love  with  wrong 
man.  Make  Buddha  ve'y  angly,  and 
89 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

he  turn  her  body  into  white  rose.  But 
her  heart  just  stay  all  time  red  'cause 
of  beautiful  love  that  was  there." 

"My!  he  's  a  fierce  old  customer, 
that  Buddha  of  yours,"  said  Merrit. 

Yuki  San  paused  in  the  filling  of  the 
rice-bowl  and  looked  at  him  gravely: 

"Merrit  San,  do  you  know  God?" 

"Do  I  know  God?"  he  repeated, 
with  a  half-embarrassed  laugh. 

"Yes,  Christians'  God,  what  you 
must  love  and  love,  but  no  never  can 
see  till  die-time  come.  You  know, 
Merrit  San?"  Then,  lowering  her 
voice  in  earnest  inquiry,  she  went  on: 
"You  believe  that  Christians'  God 
more  better  for  Japanese  girl  than 
Buddha?" 

For  a  moment  Merrit  felt  the  hot 
90 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

blood  of  confusion  rise  to  his  temples. 
The  role  of  spiritual  adviser  was  a 
new  and  somewhat  embarrassing  one. 
Struggling  for  expression,  he  floun 
dered  hopelessly. 

"I-I-I  guess  I  don't  know  very  much 
about  it.  But  there  's  one  sure  tip, 
Yuki  San,  the  Christians'  God  is  all 
right.  You  can't  lose  out  if  you  pin  to 
him."  He  stammered  like  a  foolish 
schoolboy,  but  struggled  bravely  on: 
"When  things  get  pretty  thick  and 
you  've  struck  bottom,  that  's  the  time 
you  find  out.  I  know.  I  've  been 
there.  More  's  the  pity  I  don't  remem 
ber  it  oftener!" 

"And  you  think  him  more  better  for 
me?"  asked  Yuki  San,  still  perplexed. 

"You  bet  I  do!"  said  Merrit  with 

91 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

conviction.  'Take  my  word  for  it  and 
don't  forget/' 

"I  no  forget,"  she  said. 

A  sliding  of  the  screen  and  a  call 
from  the  court-yard  announced  the  ar 
rival  of  the  jinrikisha  men,  who  had 
come  for  the  baggage. 

Merrit  thrust  back  his  half-finished 
breakfast. 

"By  Jove !  I  'd  most  forgotten  this 
is  my  last  meal  with  you.  Just  to  think 
all  that  tiresome  old  government  con 
tract  is  finished  and  I  '11  soon  be  on  my 
way  to  the  other  side !" 

"You  want  to  see  other  side?"  she 
asked.  "Mama  San  not  there  no 
more."  Then  seeing  his  face  darken, 
she  laid  a  quick  hand  of  sympathy  on 
his.  "I  have  the  sorrowful  for  you," 
92 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

she  said  earnestly,  then  went  on  has 
tily:  "That  other  side!  Yes,  I  know 
that  most  beautiful  'Merica.  Most  big 
ship  in  the  world  come  rolling  into- 
Hatoba.  Merrit  San  so  long  and  big,, 
stand  way  out  front  and  see  over  much 
people.  Then  he  cry  out,  'Herro! 
herro !'  with  glad  and  much  joyful.  He 
see  that  lovely  girl  like  picture  waiting 
there r 

Without  pausing  for  a  reply,  she 
pushed  open  a  door  and  called  in  Japa 
nese  to  her  father  and  mother,  who- 
never  made  their  appearance  till  Mer- 
rit's  breakfast  was  finished. 

"Come,  make  ready  to  give  our 
guest  an  honorable  departure,"  she 
said. 

In  the  small  courtyard  facing  the 

93 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

street  the  girl  found  the  men,  with 
their  jinrikishas  and  baggage-wagon, 
waiting  to  convey  Merrit  to  the  sta 
tion.  She  carefully  directed  the  tying 
on  of  the  various  trunks  and  bags,  and 
placed  the  family  just  where  they 
should  stand  that  the  greatest  honor 
might  be  done  the  departing  guest. 

As  Merrit  came  out  of  the  little 
house  and  reached  for  his  shoes,  which 
stood  waiting  at  the  side,  Yuki  San 
started  toward  him,  eager  to  serve  him 
to  the  last.  Merrit  motioned  her  back. 

"Don't  come  too  near,  Yuki  San.  If 
you  happened  to  fall  into  one  of  those 
shoes,  you  'd  be  lost  for  ever  and  ever, 
and  that  big  Mr.  Saito  would  be  in 
viting  me  to  cut  off  my  head." 

Yuki  San  laughed  and  smoothed  the 
94 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

cushions  in  the  jinrikisha  while  she  gave 
minute  directions  to  the  jinrikisha  men. 

Merrit  made  his  adieu  with  high 
good  humor,  and  so  many  big  words 
that  Yuki  San  was  hard  pressed  to  in 
terpret.  He  invited  the  family  and  all 
their  relatives  to  come  to  see  him  in 
America.  When  he  reached  Yuki  San 
he  held  out  his  hand.  Made  shy  by  the 
unusual  ceremony,  she  timidly  laid  a 
cold  and  unresponsive  little  palm  in 
his.  He  looked  down  from  his  height 
with  tender  memories  of  all  her  gentle 
courtesies. 

"Good-by,  little  snow-girl/'  he  said. 
"I  '11  never  forget  Japan,  nor  you." 

She  withdrew  her  hand  and  looked 
inquiringly  up  at  him. 

"Some  long  time  you  come  back?" 
95 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

Merrit  climbed  into  the  jinrikisha. 
"No,  Yuki  San,  you  know  I  '11  soon 
have  a  little  home  of  my  own  to  work 
and  care  for.  I  '11  be  a  busy  man  for 
the  next  few  years,  so  I  guess  I  '11  not 
come  back." 

As  in  a  dream,  Yuki  San  saw  the 
men  adjust  their  hats  and  tighten  their 
sashes  as  they  took  their  places  in  front 
of  the  small  vehicle.  Mechanically  she 
bowed  her  farewell  with  the  rest  of  the 
family,  but  she  did  not  join  their  "Say- 


onara/3 


She  watched  the  swift  moving  of 
the  jinrikisha  wheels,  then  she  saw 
Merrit  turn  at  the  gate  and  wave  his 
hat  as  he  joyously  called: 

"Good-by,    Yuki    San,    God    bless 


you!" 


96 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

The  girl  stood  still,  her  eyes  on  the 
empty  gate.  Like  a  lonely,  hurt  child 
her  lip  quivered,  and  she  caught  it  be 
tween  her  teeth  to  steady  it. 

"Ah,  Yuki,"  cried  her  mother, 
"some  spirit  has  wished  you  harm.  A 
drop  of  blood  rests  on  your  lips." 

Yuki  San  drew  her  hand  across  her 
mouth,  and  lightly  answered  that 
maybe  a  robin  had  tried  to  steal  a 
cherry.  But  to  herself  she  murmured : 

"My  heart  bleed  for  lonely.  He 
never  come  back." 


99 


CHAPTER  V 

I^HE  following  day  a  host  of  ac 
cumulated  duties  and  various 
preparations  for  the  first  ceremonious 
visit  of  the  groom-elect  kept  Yuki 
San's  hands  and  mind  busy,  and  if 
sometimes  a  sob  rose  in  her  throat,  or 
her  eyes  strayed  wistfully  from  her 
task,  she  resolutely  refused  to  let  her 
self  dwell  upon  the  past. 

The  marriage,  which  had  been  duti 
fully  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course 
and  looked  forward  to  as  a  financial 
relief  to  the  entire  family,  had  never 
held  any  particular  interest  for  her, 
100 


LITTLE  SISTER'SNOW 


but  now  even  the  preparations,  which 
had  hitherto  excited  her  interest  and 
enthusiasm,  found  her  listless  and  in 
different. 

She  would  be  mistress  over  a  great 
mansion  and  many  servants,  and  her 
days  were  to  be  spent  in  arranging  for 
the  physical  comfort  of  Saito  and  the 
entertainment  of  his  friends. 

The  arrangement  had  seemed  so 
simple,  and  so  right,  and  she  had  been 
gratified  that  a  desirable  husband  had 
been  found.  But  now  she  could  neither 
understand  nor  explain  to  herself  her 
new  and  strange  resistance.  She  only 
knew  that  for  the  first  time  in  her  life 
there  was  rebellion  against  the  inevit 
able. 

As  she  rested  her  tired  body  before 
101 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

beginning  her  toilet  for  the  afternoon, 
she  remembered  an  American  teacher 
at  school  who  had  been  in  love  with 
the  man  she  was  soon  to  marry.  She 
remembered  how  she  had  hidden  be 
hind  the  trees  to  see  this  young  teacher 
run  to  the  gate  to  meet  the  postman, 
and  her  own  failure  to  see  why  these 
letters  should  bring  such  joy.  She, 
with  other  girls,  had  spent  a  whole  re 
cess  acting  this  scene  amid  peals  of 
laughter.  Now  it  all  came  back  to  her 
with  new  meaning,  and  it  seemed  nei 
ther  strange  nor  amusing. 

She  leaned  her  head  against  the 
open  shoji  and  looked  out  into  the  gar 
den,  radiant  and  beautiful  in  the  high 
noon  of  a  perfect  autumn  day. 

The    working   world   paused    in    a 
1 02 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

brief  sleep  and  the  music  of  the  garden 
was  hushed,  while  the  insects  sought 
the  shadow  of  green  leaves.  Peace  was 
within  and  without,  save  in  the  girl's 
awakening  heart. 

"Ah,  Sensei,"  she  murmured 
through  her  trembling  lips.  "Then  I 
make  fun  for  your  letter  of  love.  For 
give  my  impolite.  Now  I  the  under 
standing  have." 

Yuki  San  chose  her  toilet  for  the 
coming  visit  with  due  regard  for  all 
convention.  There  must  be  no  touch 
of  purple— that  being  the  color  soonest 
to  fade  made  it  an  evil  omen.  She  se 
lected  an  obi  of  rare  brocade,  the  be 
trothal  gift  of  Saito,  the  great  length 
of  which  expressed  the  hope  of  an  en 
during  marriage. 

103 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

As  she  dressed,  her  mother  flitted 
about  her,  chatting  volubly  and  in  such 
high  spirits  that  Yuki  San's  heart  was 
warmed.  The  elaborate  trousseau  had 
caused  the  little  household  many  a 
sacrifice,  but  the  joy  in  the  hearts 
of  the  old  people  more  than  justified 
them. 

Presently  the  clatter  of  the  jinriki- 
sha  in  the  courtyard  announced  the  ar 
rival  of  the  guest.  Yuki  San  heard 
the  long  ceremonious  greeting  of  her 
father.  She  saw  her  mother  hasten 
away  to  do  her  part  and,  left  alone,  she 
sat  with  troubled  eyes  and  drooping 
head. 

The  strange  feeling  in  her  heart,  one 
moment  of  joy  and  one  of  pain,  bewil 
dered  and  frightened  her.  No  thought 
104 


SHE  BUSIED  HERSELF  WITH  SERVING  THE  TEA 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXOW 

of  evading  her  duty  crossed  her  mind, 
but  her  whole  being  cried  out  for  a 
beautiful  something  she  had  just 
found,  but  which  it  was  futile  to  hope 
for  in  her  new  life. 

At  the  call  of  her  mother,  Yuki  San 
silently  pushed  open  the  screen  and 
made  her  low  and  graceful  greeting. 
Custom  forbidding  her  to  take  part  in 
the  conversation,  she  busied  herself 
with  serving  the  tea,  listening  while 
Saito  San  recounted  various  incidents 
of  the  picturesque  court-life,  or  told  of 
adventures  in  the  recent  war. 

After  all  the  prescribed  topics  had 
been  discussed  and  the  farewells  had 
been  said,  Yuki  San  retained  a  vague 
impression  of  a  small,  middle-aged 
ir.an,  with  many  medals  on  his  breast, 
107 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

who  looked  at  her  with  kind,  unsmil 
ing  eyes. 

It  was  not  till  after  the  simple  even 
ing  meal  that  Yuki  San  found  the 
chance  to  slip  away  to  the  little  upper 
room  which  had  been  Merrit's  for  two 
months.  Nothing  there  had  been 
touched,  for  the  old  mother  claimed 
that  to  set  a  room  in  order  too  soon 
after  a  guest's  departure  was  to  sweep 
out  all  luck  with  him. 

The  girl  entered  and  stood,  a  ghostly 
image,  in  the  soft  and  tender  light  of 
the  great  autumn  moon  as  it  lay 
against  the  paper  doors  and  filled  the 
tiny  room.  Through  the  half-light 
Yuki  San  saw  many  touches  of  the  late 
inmate's  personality.  A  discarded  tie 
hung  limply  from  a  hook  on  the  wall, 
108 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

a  half -smoked  cigar  and  a  faded  white 
rose  lay  side  by  side  on  the  low  table. 

From  the  garden  the  sad  call  of  a 
night-bird,  with  its  oft-repeated  wail, 
seemed  to  voice  her  loneliness,  and 
with  a  sob  she  sank  upon  her  knees  be 
side  the  cot.  Long  she  lay  in  an  aban 
donment  of  grief,  beating  futile  wings 
against  the  bars  of  fate.  At  last, 
throwing  out  her  arms,  she  touched  a 
small  object  beneath  the  pillow.  Draw 
ing  it  toward  her,  she  took  it  to  the 
open  shoji,  and  by  the  bright  moon 
light  she  saw  a  small  morocco  note 
book.  She  puzzled  over  the  strange 
figures  on  the  first  few  pages,  but 
from  the  small  pocket  on  the  back 
cover  she  drew  forth  a  picture  that 
neither  confused  nor  surprised. 
109 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

It  was  the  girl  Merrit  had  told  her 
about— the  girl  to  whom  he  was  going 
so  joyously. 

It  was  a  face  full  of  the  gladness  of 
life  and  love,  whose  laughing  eyes 
looked  straight  into  Yuki  San's  with 
such  a  challenge  of  friendship  and 
good  will  that  the  girl  smiled  back  at 
the  picture  and  laid  it  gently  against 
her  warm  cheek. 

She  sought  out  each  detail  of  hair 
and  dress  as  she  held  it  for  closer  in 
spection,  then  replacing  it  in  the  pocket 
she  said  softly : 

"He  have  the  big,  big  love  for  you. 
You  give  him  the  happy.  I  close  my 
heart  about  you." 

On  the  back,  of  the  book  in  letters  of 
gold  she  spelled  out  the  strange  word, 
no 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

"Diary."  She  puzzled  for  a  moment, 
then  she  remembered  where  she  had 
seen  it  before.  The  young  American 
teacher  had  written  in  just  such  a 
book,  and  when  she  asked  its  meaning, 
the  teacher  had  said  it  was  her  best 
friend,  her  confidant,  to  whom  she  told 
her  secrets. 

For  a  moment  Yuki  San  stood  with 
the  book  ii  her  hand,  then  she  said  im 
pulsively  : 

"Diary !  I  make  diary,  too.  I  speak 
my  thoughts  to  you.  I  tole  you  all  my 
secrets.  Maybe  my  lonely  heart  will 
flew  away." 


in 


M 


CHAPTER  VI 

THE  DIARY  OF  YUKI  SAN 

First  Entry 

ERICAN  Sensei  say  she  have 
one  closest  friend  in  little  book. 
I  tell  my  troublesome  to  this  little  book 
what  spells  "Diary"  in  gold  letters  on 
back.  I  make  it  my  closest  friend  what 
no  never  speaks  the  words  of  yours 
when  heart  overflows  with  several 
feelings.  I  write  for  Merrit  San,  but 
his  eyes  no  must  never  see.  Just  my 
heart  speak  to  his  heart  in  that  'Mer- 
ican  tongue  what  he  understands. 
Japanese  girl  very  naughty  if  she 

112 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

love  man.  She  made  for  the  take  care 
of  man's  mother,  man's  house.  Very 
bad  for  Japanese  girl  to  say  love  when 
she  marry  \vith  man.  Merrit  San  say 
'Merican  girl  speak  love  with  eyes 
when  lips  are  shame.  Japanese  girl 
cover  the  eye  with  little  curtain  when 
man  comes.  She  no  must  peep  out  one 
little  corner.  No  must  see,  no  must 
hear,  no  must  speak  the  love. 

So  I  make  little  book  guess  my  heart 
each  day. 

The  happy  days  are  pass  away,  and 
the  flowers  are  bloom  and  birds  will 
return  to  me  again,  but  where  can  I 
find  Merrit  San?  How  I  feel  the  sorry 
and  the  lonesome  when  I  think  I  can't 
find  him  no  more  in  this  long  island. 
I  no  can  express  my  heart  with  words. 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

I  never  the  forget  of  his  kindness  to 
me. 

Big  lamp  by  Merrit  San's  desk  no 
never  burn  so  bright  for  me.  It  make 
funny  little  crooked  shadow  of  my 
body  on  shoji.  Merrit  San's  body  al 
ways  make  big  and  strong  black  pic 
ture.  I  saw  it  last  time  big  moon  look 
over  mountain.  I  took  walk  in  garden 
and  I  thinking  this  time  next  moon 
Merrit  San  will  not  be  here.  Though 
the  lamplight  shines  through  the  shoji, 
still  in  next  month  the  owner  of  the 
light  will  be  different  and  the  ache 
come  into  my  heart. 

Whole    Japan    are    changed,    and 

everything  I   see  or  hear  makes  me 

think  of  him ;  but  my  thoughts  of  him 

never,  never  changed,  yet  more  and 

114 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

more  increase  and  longing  for  him  all 
time.  My  heart  speak  the  much  word 
of  love  for  Merrit  San.  My  eyes  grow 
shame  to  say  it.  Little  book,  close  my 
secret ! 

Second  Entry 

ALL  day  many  rains  come  down  in 
garden.  He  steals  flowers'  sweetness 
and  damp  my  heart  with  lonesome. 
Last  rainy  day  Merrit  San  teached  me 
more  better  English,  and  he  laugh 
very  long  when  I  read  the  English 
writing  with  my  Japanese  tongue.  He 
say:  "Ah,  Yuki  San,  you  very  funny 
little  girl!" 

Then  I  teach  him  the  play  of  go  ban, 
and  he  make  the  pain  in  his  head  with 
the    several    thoughts   how    he    must 
"5 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

move  the  black  or  white.  He  try  long, 
long  time,  then  he  shake  his  big  f eest, 
and  he  say :  "You  've  got  me  beat,  little 
sister;  you  Ve  got  me  sure." 

I  laugh,  but  I  think  much  thoughts. 
/  no  hurt  Merrit  San  with  beat,  and 
girl  with  much  laugh  in  her  eyes  have 
got  him  for  surely.  I  no  understand 
that  funny  'Merican  tongue. 

Merrit  San  so  many  time  call  me  lit 
tle  sister,  and  he  say  my  soul  all  white 
like  my  name.  What  is  my  soul  ?  Ah, 
that  same  spirit  what  leave  my  body 
and  go  out  'cross  that  many  seas  to 
safe  Merrit  San's  journey.  I  keep  that 
soul  all  purely  and  white  all  of  because 
Merrit  San  call  me  Little  Sister  Snow. 

One  day  I  take  Merrit  San  with  me 
to  very  old  temple.  Sun,  him  so  bright 
116 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

he  make  all  leaves  to  dance  with  glad. 
Green  lizard  take  sleep  on  stone  step 
while  big  honey-bee  sing  song.  All 
things  have  the  joyful,  and  ray  feets 
just  touch  earth  with  lightsome. 

I  go  inside  temple  and  say  one  very 
little  pray  to  Amida,  for  I  have  the 
hurry.  When  I  go  back,  Merrit  San 
he  say: 

"See  here,  Yuki  San,  you  no  waste 
time  over  pray.  You  get  the  trouble 
with  that  old  gentleman  if  you  have 
not  the  careful." 

Then  I  say:  "Next  time  I  give  him 
little  money  and  make  big  smoke  with 
incense/'  and  he  say,  "Yuki,  you  very 
good  girl." 

Just  by  temple's  side  is  little  bam 
boo-tree  which  have  very  nice  story. 
117 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

One  good  god  he  like  this  bamboo,  and 
he  like  the  beautiful  love.  He  say  give 
names  of  man  and  woman  to  boughs 
of  bamboo  and  make  the  tie  together 
with  long  pin  of  thorn.  Give  the  low 
bow,  and  by  and  by  the  dear  wish  in 
heart  will  be  truly. 

Merrit  San  he  no  can  know  what  I 
do,  but  he  hold  the  high  boughs  of 
bamboo  down  and  I  name  him  and  me 
and  make  the  tie  together. 

The  dear  wish  of  my  heart  come  not 
truly.  It  is  full  of  sad. 

Third  Entry 

WHAT  shall  I  do  to  less  my  anxious? 
To-day  at  temple  I  ask  Buddha.  He 
never  speak.  He  always  look  far  away 
at  big  sea.  He  no  care,  though  tears  of 
118 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

the  heart  make  damp  the  kimono 
sleeve.  The  Christians'  God  I  no  can 
see.  But  Merrit  San  say  he  is  every 
where  and  listens  for  voice  of  trouble 
some.  I  no  can  make  him  hear,  though 
I  say  the  loud  prayer. 

Buddha  very  ugly  old  god.  Maybe 
him  cross  when  he  see  very  pretty  Jap 
anese  girl  make  the  low  bow  to  him. 

I  believe  Christians'  God  more  bet 
ter  than  Buddha,  because  Merrit  San 
say  he  make  everything  truly.  He 
make  me,  he  make  Merrit  San,  he 
make  the  beautiful  love.  Maybe  some 
day  that  big  God  hear  about  Japanese 
girl's  heart  of  trouble  and  speak  the 
peace. 

To-day  one  long  so  busy  day.  Many 
silk  must  be  sewed  into  fine  kimono  for 
119 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

the  when  I  go  to  live  in  other  house. 
Sometimes  I  very  glad  I  go  to  other 
house.  I  make  the  many  comforts  of 
my  mother  and  my  father. 

To-day  I  see  the  much  cold  in  my 
father's  body.  Very  soon  he  have  nice 
warm  kimono  with  sheep's  fur  all  in 
side.  Then  I  make  the  glad  heart,  I 
marry  with  Japanese  man. 

It  is  getting  little  cold,  and  every 
night  the  moon  is  so  clear.  These 
day  crickets  are  singing  among  the 
grasses.  Those  make  me  to  think  of 
Merrit  San  more  and  more.  This  fall 
was  quite  changed  to  me.  At  first 
Merrit  San  never  come  back  to  me  as  I 
expect  in  dreamy  way.  I  have  the  feel 
of  very  helpless  and  lonesome.  Before, 
though  I  had  some  trouble  or  unhappi- 

I2O 


VERY  HEI.PLF.SS  AND  LONESOME 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

ness,  if  I  saw  Merrit  San's  smile  ev 
erything  was  taken  clear  away  and  my 
heart  was  full  with  cheer  and  happy. 

Ah,  Merrit  San,  though  it  makes 
my  cheek  red  with  hot  to  write  the 
speak,  I  love  you  most. 

Buddha  very  naughty  old  god  to  say 
nothing  truly  is. 

Fourth  Entry 

AH,  Merrit  San,  what  you  suppose  T 
have  dream  last  night?  I  was  so 
happy  that  I  cannot  tell  with  my 
tongue  nor  pen.  That  you  come  back ! 
I  could  no  word  speak  out  with  so 
much  glad.  I  had  many  things  to  tell 
you  before  I  wake,  but  I  could  not 
even  one  thing. 

You  say  you  stay  ten  days.    It  is  too 
123 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

short,  but  it  far  more  better  is  than 
half  night.  Oh,  I  wish  so  bad  I  did 
not  wake  up  from  dream ! 

I  was  tearful  with  much  disappoint, 
then  I  remember  that  day  you  go  to 
big  'Merica  you  call  back  "God  bless 
you,  Yuki  San,"  and  with  my  heart  I 
make  one  soft  prayer  to  Christians' 
God. 

When  big  temple  bell  wake  me  up 
and  all  birds,  my  troublesome  was 
more  light,  and  I  make  so  big  break 
fast  for  my  father  and  my  mother,  my 
pocket  began  to  tell  the  loneliness,  and 
I  could  not  perform  all  my  wishes. 

When  I  write  these  letters  Merrit 

San  is  far  away  at  sea  on  the  way  of 

his  home.     He  will  have  joyful  time. 

I  wish  I  can  see  her,  that  girl  with  the 

124 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

laugh  in  her  eyes.  Wonder  how  she 
thinks  of  Japan.  Perhaps  she  would 
think  how  small  and  lonely  country 
and  people.  One  girl  in  that  Japanese 
country  very  sad  with  lonely. 

But  Merrit  San  say:  "Yuki  San, 
you  good  girl,  you  be  good  wife/'  So 
I  make  the  try  to  put  my  lonely  heart 
to  sleep. 

Fifth  Entry 

TIME  and  days  goes  too  fast  as  run 
ning  water.  Already  old  month  went 
away  and  new  one  have  come.  It  is 
time  for  us  to  do  last  work  on  many 
clothes  for  new  home. 

When    Japanese    girl    marry    with 
man  she  take  much  goods  to  his  house. 
To-day  my  father  bring  what  'Meri- 
125 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

can  call  bureau,  and  many  work-box 
and  trays  and  much  fine  futon  for  to 
sleep  on  floor  with.  Next  day  after 
this  many  mens  will  come  and  travel 
all  things  to  other  house.  Japanese 
girl  wear  fine  kimono  long,  long  time, 
and  keep  for  more  little  girl.  Merrit 
San  say  'Merican  girl  wear  fine  ki 
mono  one  time,  then  she  no  more  like. 

Then  'Merican  girl  have  much 
happy  in  her  heart.  'Merican  man 
come  to  girl's  house  to  marry  with 
her.  She  no  afraid  to  speak  the  word 
of  love,  though  man's  mother  sit  next 
by  him.  She  no  'fraid  of  laugh.  She 
has  the  joyful  of  life. 

Japanese  girl  very  happy  when  she 
very  little  girl,  or  very,  very  old.  But 
when  she  goes  to  man's  house  to  marry 
126 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

with  him,  she  must  always  be  the  quiet 
of  little  mice  and  more  busy  than 
honey-bee.  Very  bad.  But  Japanese 
girl  have  the  much  brave,  and  holds 
the  happy  in  her  heart  when  she  brings 
the  comforts  to  her  peoples. 

Merrit  San  say  many  more  big 
country  than  Japan  in  world.  I  say, 
"What  is  world?  I  wish  I  know  world 
like  you!"  Merrit  San  stop  the  laugh 
and  his  voice  grow  still  with  quiet, 
then  he  say : 

"Ah,  Yuki  San,  little  snow-girl  like 
you  should  not  know  the  world.  Cud 
dle  in  your  little  nest  and  be  content." 

What  is  content?     It  is  the  don't 
care  of  anything  but  the  flower-gar 
den  in  my  heart.    Wonder  if  girl  with 
laugh  in  her  eyes  have  the  content  ? 
127 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

This  day  I  take  walk  by  seas.  Last 
time  I  take  walk  so  many  peoples  come 
with  us.  I  make  into  Japanese  words  all 
Merrit  San's  funny  speaks.  We  have 
the  much  laugh:  Merrit  San  try  the 
eat  with  chop-sticks. 

To-day  little  boat  what  we  ride  the 
water  in  was  broke  by  its  nose  and 
many  seas  was  eating  it  up.  Loud 
cold  wind  make  pine-trees  shivery 
and  sad.  Big  gray  cloud  come  down 
and  make  all  black  with  sorrowful. 
Sometimes  little  white  waves  jump  up 
and  dance,  but  the  joyful  of  last  happy 
day  stings  my  heart. 

Sixth  Entry 

MORE  long  time  go  running  slowly  by 

since  you  have  left  us,  and  as  I  was 

128 


LITTLE  SISTER  SXOW 

thinking  of  that  running  and  those 
days  and  longing  for  you  and  my  heart 
getting  down  in  lonely  thoughts,  Yu- 
bin  San  bring  me  those  package  what 
you  sent,  Merrit  San,  and  it  made  me 
very  glad  and  happy.  Hardly  can  I 
tell  what  was  in  my  heart  then.  Be 
fore  I  can  open  it  I  hold  it  tightly 
against  my  breast  and  kept  silence  a 
little  while.  Tears  of  sorrow  changed 
into  the  great  joy  for  a  moment  when 
I  see  your  name  and  your  hand  of 
write.  I  feel  as  if  I  receive  a  new  life 
right  in  this  minute,  and  I  caught  a 
light  of  hope  in  yonder.  My  heartful 
joy  and  gladness  will  not  express,  and 
I  wish  I  can  go  up  in  high  place  and 
shout  out  and  tell  all  people  the  joyful 
of  beautiful  love.  How  it  make  the 
129 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

change  in  whole  earth  and  life  and  give 
the  dance  of  heart.  But  I  will  not. 
Mens  and  women  of  Japanese  country 
have  not  the  understand  of  such  lovely 
thing,  and  make  the  shameful  of  me. 
So  I  give  silence  to  my  lips  and  close 
the  door  of  my  heart.  Ah,  what  funny 
little  thing  that  heart  is!  In  one  half 
live  the  joyful.  Other  side  have  all  the 
painful  of  life,  and  when  the  love  come 
sometimes  he  knock  at  wrong  door 
and  give  the  hurtful  ache  to  life.  Ah, 
Merrit  San,  you  give  many  thankfuls 
for  the  lend  of  my  house  in  your  letter. 
I  give  the  love  of  you  many  more 
thankfuls  for  coming  to  my  heart, 
even  he  knock  at  two  doors.  One  day 
me  and  Merrit  San  went  down  to  tem 
ple  where  big  feast  was.  Merrit  San 
130 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

go  inside  and  look  long  long  time  at 
Buddha,  then  he  say: 

"Yuki  San,  what  will  this  old 
gentleman  do  to  you  if  you  disobey 
him?"  I  give  little  think,  then  I  say, 
"I  no  can  know— I  no  never  disobey. 
Buddha  say,  'Yuki,  take  care  father 
and  mother  all  time/  I  take  care.  Him 
say,  'Yuki,  you  woman— you  not  talk 
too  much/  I  no  talk  much.  Then 
him  say,  'Yuki,  come  many  time  to 
temple  and  make  light  with  incense 
and  put  little  money  every  time  in 
box/  I  give  obey  and  much  go  rin, 
but  Buddha  keep  all  and  never  give 
back/'  Before  I  finish  my  speak  Mer- 
rit  San  shiver  like  cold  and  say,  "Come 
on,  Yuki  San,  let 's  get  out  of  here  and 
find  the  sun/'  Outside  I  make  cherry- 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

wreath  while  Merrit  San  tell  me  story. 
Him  very  sweet  day— now  all  gone 
forever. 

Seventh  Entry 

LAST  fine  kimono  is  finished  and  all 
baggage  is  tied.  Next  day  I  go  to 
other  house. 

Then  my  mother  will  give  all  house 
much  sweep  with  new  broom,  to  tell 
gods  I  go  'way  no  more  to  come  back. 
Maybe  they  make  big  fire  by  gate  to 
tell  all  peoples  I  belong  to  other  house 
now.  Ah,  little  book,  to-night  I  make 
big  fire  in  my  heart  and  burn  all  my 
wickeds  in  it.  Next  day  I  make  more 
fire  and  burn  you.  To  other  house  I 
must  go  all  white  and  purely  as  Merrit 
San  say. 

132 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

Ah,  Merrit  San,  you  the  one  big 
happy  in  all  my  life  and  I  never  forget 
all  your  kindful.  You  give  me  the 
good  heart,  like  sun  make  flower-bud 
unclose.  You  telled  me  what  is  soul  and 
purely,  and  you  say  be  very  good  wife. 

One  night  when  moon  was  big  and 
round  and  red  and  river  outside  wall 
go  spank,  spank,  you  call  all  my  people 
to  garden,  and  with  the  'Merican  sam- 
isen  you  sing  much  songs. 

Sometimes  you  very  funny,  but  some 
times  when  moon  specks  slip  through 
big  pine-tree,  I  see  you  very  sadful. 

Now  moon  speck  come  on  shoji  and 
ache  my  eyes  to  look  your  face  once 
more. 

I  try  so  much  to  make  picture  of 
man's  face  I  marry  with.  I  no  can  see 

8  133 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

anything  but  much  medals  on  coat,  and 
so  many  teeths.  Merrit  San's  eyes  all 
blue  and  twinkly,  and  face  so  white 
and  clean. 

But  now  he  make  the  joyful  with  girl 
with  laugh  in  her  eyes,  and  her  feet  no 
touch  the  ground  with  much  happy. 

To-morrow  I  go  to  other  house  and 
no  belong  to  my  father  and  mother. 
To-day  I  go  temple,  and  I  make  prom 
ise  I  no  more  speak  of  Merrit  San's 
name;  no  more  the  think  of  his  face  in 
my  heart. 

Little  book,  I  weared  you  close  to 
my  breast  many  days.  To-night  I 
sleep  with  you  tight  to  my  heart.  You 
gived  me  the  courage  to  turn  my  face 
to  the  rising  sun  of  the  to-morrow. 

Sayonara. 

134 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  low,  deep  music  of  a  temple 
bell  rolled  down  the  hillside  and 
echoed  through  the  giant  cryptome- 
rias.  It  stirred  to  action  the  creatures 
of  the  early  dawn  and  passed  out  with 
infinite  sweetness  to  the  red-rimmed 
east  of  another  day. 

The  priests  in  the  old  temples 
chanted  their  prayers  with  weird  mon 
otony,  while  a  single  bird  poured  out 
his  morning  song  of  love  at  the  door 
of  his  mate. 

The  old  stone  steps  leading  from 
temple  to  temple  would  have  looked  as 
they  had  a  thousand  other  mornings, 
135 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

gray,  grim,  and  mossy,  save  for  a  little 
figure  that  slowly  took  its  way  up  a 
long  and  crooked  flight. 

Yuki  San  was  on  her  way  to  make 
good  her  promise  to  the  gods.  Her 
wooden  shoes  clicked  sharply  in  the 
quiet  morning  air,  then  hushed  as  she 
paused  for  rest  on  a  broad  step.  Even 
the  exertion  of  the  long  climb  had 
failed  to  color  her  white  cheeks,  but 
her  lips  were  carmine  and  her  eyes 
luminous  with  purpose. 

The  one  spot  of  color  about  her 
otherwise  sober  little  figure  was  a 
bright-red  furoshike  held  close,  in 
which  something  was  carefully 
wrapped. 

A  noisy  waterfall  leaped  past  her 
down  the  hillside  in  a  perpetual  chal- 


TO  MAKE  GOOD  HER  PROMISE  TO  THE  GODS 


]  ch; 


- 


. 


•_ 

lenge  to  race  to  the  foot.    Stern-faced 
images,  grim  of  aspect,  stared  at  her 
as  she  climbed,  but  Yuki   San  kept 
gravely  on  her  way  until  she  reached 
The  open  door  of  the  great  silent  temple. 
The  faint  light  of  the  early  morning 
had  scarce  penetrated  the  shadows  that 
clung  about  the  gorgeous  hangings 
and  rich  symbols  of  this  ancient  place 
of   worship.      A   white-robed   priest, 
oblivious  to  all  save  his  own  medita 
tions,  paid  little  heed  to  the  childlike 
figure  as  it  knelt  before  the  cold,  calm, 
unchanging     image     of     the     great 

Buddha. 

For  a  moment  Yuki  San  moved  her 
lips.    Still  kneeling,  she  drew  from  her 
sash  the  red  furoshike  and  took  from 
it  a  small  morocco  note-book. 
139 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

With  light  steps  she  crossed  to  a 
brazier,  and  with  a  pair  of  small  tongs 
lifted  from  it  a  glowing  coal.  With 
steady  fingers  she  pushed  aside  the 
many  sticks  of  incense  in  the  great 
brass  vessel  before  the  shrine,  and 
making  a  little  grave  among  the  ashes, 
she  laid  within  the  burning  coal  the 
little  book. 

The  blue  smoke,  rising  slowly,  hung 
for  a  moment  above  the  girl's  head  as 
a  halo,  then  rose  to  the  feet  of  Buddha 
as  in  supplication  for  mercy,  and  was 
finally  lost  in  the  darkness  of  the 
heavy  roof. 

The  girl  watched  with  wide  eyes 
and  parted  lips.     Clasping  her  hands^ 
she  lifted  her  face  and  from  her  heart 
came  a  fervent,  whispered  prayer. 
140 


LITTLE  SISTER  SNOW 

"I  make  empty  my  heart  of  all 
wicked.  Buddha  or  Christians'  God,  I 
no  can  know  which.  Please  the  more 
better  speak  into  my  lonely  life  the 
word  of  peace." 

She  turned  from  the  silent  temple  on 
her  homeward  way.  She  paused  by 
the  clump  of  bamboo  where  so  short  a 
time  before  she  had  gleefully  tied  to 
gether  two  boughs  in  the  name  of 
Merrit  and  herself.  Tiptoeing  to 
reach  the  high  boughs  which  Merrit 
had  held  for  her  to  tie,  she  drew  them 
downward  to  slip  the  thong  that  bound 
them.  After  holding  them  to  her  soft 
cheek  a  moment,  she  let  them  fly  apart, 
while  she  closed  her  eyes  and  whis 
pered  softly: 

"Good-by,  beautiful  love,  good-by." 
141 


'>r 


• 


RETURN     CIRCULATION  DEPARTMENT 
TO—*      202  Main  Library 

LOAN  PERIOD  1 
HOME  USE 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

ALL  BOOKS  MAY  BE  RECALLED  AFTER  7  DAYS 

Renewals  and  Recharges  may  be  made  4  days  prior  to  the  due  date. 

Books  may  be  Renewed  by  calling     642-3405. 


DUE  AS  STAMPED  BELOW 

DEC  17  1991 

. 

- 

II  1  1       ft    C\     jf\f\r\ 

JUL  3  0  1998 

SEP  *  y  j,H8 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  BERKELEY 
FORM  NO.  DD6  BERKELEY,  CA  94720 

®s 


984453 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


